Steam Train to Elgin: A Train Ride from Cape Town to the Steampunk Market

Few things are more romantic and enjoyable than a steam-train ride through the countryside… And now you can hop aboard one of Ceres Rail’s family-friendly locomotives and experience the splendour firsthand.

The three-hour train ride to Elgin departs from the Harbour Bridge Hotel in the Foreshore district, and travels up Sir Lowry’s Pass. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of mountains, endless rolling hills – and even spot a few sheep and cows along the way.

The steampunk-style Elgin Market

Once the train pulls into the Elgin station, you will be able to disembark, and enjoy three-and-a-half hours at the newly established steampunk-themed Elgin Railway Market. With live music and a dazzling selection of clothing, accessories, ceramics and art stalls, you’ll be able to enjoy all that’s on offer while savouring tantalising street-food and refreshments.

The Inside Guide has made every effort to ensure that the information in this post was correct at the time of publication. However, we do not assume any liability caused by errors, such as price, cost, time, and location.

Time of publication: 14 December 2018

154 Responses to “Steam Train to Elgin: A Train Ride from Cape Town to the Steampunk Market”

Rita Van Zyl

I am trying to book for the 21st of March . It does not show as Sold out but when I try to book I there is full indicator
Are there any seats available still for 21st of March? We are a group of 7 Adults & 1 child younger than 2 years

The Inside Guide

You can get on at the Somerset West Station, however, you will still need to pay full price as the seats are reserved from Cape Town.
Please indicate that you would like to be picked up in Somerset West under the “Any other requests?” section on the booking form.

The Inside Guide

Hi Theresa, thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, the train does not run in winter and we will only have confirmation of the September dates in June. If you sign up to our newsletter we’ll be able to keep you informed of their upcoming dates!

Mervyn Taub

Ttixi

Do you offer special rates for pensioners/seniors?… we would love to travel as we did in our youth and you would even benefit by make a featured group special for us oldies for a “remember when ” outing … please

Vincent Dalla

The Inside Guide

Hi Vincent. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Our technical team have tested the link and it’s working on our side. When you click the Book Now button, a new tab should open a booking page where, if you follow the prompts, you’ll be able to book. Where in the process does the link not work for you? Please can you supply us with some more information, so we’re able to assist?

Joy

Can someone please contact me with regards to possible cancellations you may have. I am trying to book a trip for first or second weekend in May for my folks that will be travelling to C.T. I spoke to one of the volunteers when I was on the trip and she said there may be an error on the website because it shows that every weekend is booked up until end of June.

Please kindly make contact with me, I’m desperately looking for 2 tickets. My dad (82 years old) and mom would really like to go.

Gillian Mertz

The Inside Guide

You can get on at the Somerset West Station, however, you will still need to pay full price as the seats are reserved from Cape Town.
Please indicate that you would like to be picked up in Somerset West under the “Any other requests?” section on the booking form.

Carolann eacher

The Inside Guide

Thanks for your message. You can book for the 6 April as there are a few spaces left.
The cost is R750 (adults, return) and you can book by following selecting 6 April on the booking link and following the instructions.

Rose Acornley

Sam

Hans Juergen Burckhardt

Hello,
We are a group of 5 train enthusiasts from Germany and we would like to go to Elgin Market on Saturday 13 April. Unfortunately your train ride is booked out. Is there any possibity to get train tickets? Maybe tickets are cancelled and you make a reservation for us.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Kind regards
Hans

Gigi

Gigi

We’ve had the pleasure of a steam train ride to Ceres in coaches that our memories of way back when were made of. Granted, this is not a cheap ride to Ceres and back, but it’s not the”trip” that we paid for, but the EXPERIENCE. What all the detractors complaining about the price don’t realise that this operation has HUGE costs attached to running and maintaining the steam trains which justify higher ticket prices than we are “comfortable” with. So if you’re looking for a trip to Ceres, gather a bunch bof mates and take a car. Ceres Rail is about a trip down memory lane. And Ceres Rail do offere shorter less expensive experiences for the cash-strapped.

Colin

Les

Price not bad at all. It is an experience for kids that will possibly never have the pleasure of a train trip like we did in yester year. I would pay for it. Maybe you all should try the Blue Train at R13K pp. Now see how reasonable the price is for this trip. Looking forward to taking my son

faz

Adrian

Catharina hendry

Are they out of their minds with those prices? I’d rather hop onto the shozaloza meyl and have a great trip to jbh and back. Better value for money. South Africans can barely afford to.explore our country due to astronomical prices. Shame really.

NAJWA

Was super stoked when I saw this!! Pardon the pun…the excitement just lost its vigour and went up in smoke when looking at the cost!! I have three kids over the age of 13… (eyes rolling!!) not cool…not cool at all

LMG

That is a bit of a snotty response, since the price objection is a legitimate one. We have 4 kids in our newly integrated family. And 2 on them are classified as “adults”, make the math!

It’s ridiculous that we, the ordinary citizens, can’t enjoy such offerings with our families due to the ridiculous prices! We miss out on sharing beautiful moments with our kids because we simply can’t afford a R5k, one day trip!

Patrick

Too much. I see Cape Nature Reserve and similar plcaes have a price structure for SA citizens; SA Pensioners and International tourists. Thats the way to go. Unless their target market is international tourists- than so be it. One must also realise that there is always a business model and it must be geared towards profit. The question remain-profit to what extent?

Lourens

HEATHER DYERS

SUCH A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY WITHOUT THE HASSLE OF HAVING TO DRIVE AND THEN COMES THE BUMMER!! PRICING CLEARLY ENVISIONING THE TOURIST TO PAY WITH DOLLARS AND POUNDS , THE CAPETONIANS ESPECIALLY GET YET ANOTHER SLAP IN THE FACE!! SOOOOO UNFAIR!!
PLEASE RECONSIDER AND DISCOUNT THE PRICE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS SO THAT WE CAN ALL ENDORSE LOCAL IS LEKKER!!

Melanie du Toit

This is a really sad example of companies in and around Cape Town catering to foreigners and not taking locals into account. We are a year-round holiday destination but surely some sort of ‘locals fee’ should apply? This is astronomically expensive.

Lynn Coetzee

Seems like pricing is an issue. Is it possible to start the trip from Paarl, for example, to make it more cost effective? I would love to take this trip, but family of 5 is going to need some major saving and I note that it closes end of 2016?!

Sharlene

Jannie Hanekom

It’s a chunk of money but I consider it reasonable value – I’m going with my son. Yes, at a typical running cost of R1.40 per km, your car would cost you R400 for the 300km round-trip, but I don’t quite get the comments about it being cheaper to drive to Ceres. Of course it is. But then the point of this offering isn’t about getting to Ceres and back in the most efficient manner… I would like to see it more accessible to particularly families too, but if you’re going to complain about pricing, at least use more relevant comparisons.

Emma Kate

Awesome idea but way too expensive even for tourists!! We live in NZ and the cost for our family of 5 ( 2 adults 3 kids) would be approximately NZD$310 for a return ticket excluding the lunch! And why on earth can’t we take our own food along, that’s just silly. Nice idea but you need to lower your prices to make it tourist affordable.

Candice

I, like many others were so excited to come across this little adventure until you realize what this is going to cost! Disgusting to say the least, the fact that food is not even included in that price is even more disgusting! You should seriously reconsider your pricing as this is not fair to your average family!

Daniel Coetzer

Vanessa

I remember doing this trip about to ceres about 15 years ago, my father took me. Did not know how much he paid…. I wanted to take my son now, but only royalty can afford that price. Utter ridiculous. I understand it costs them to set this all up. But, if they lower the price by about half, R400 both ways, I’ll consider it. MAYBE. I would think R250 both ways is reasonable! Such a let down. Oh well.

Claire Kaplan

Rika

This sounds amazing and I think well worth the price considering it is on a STEAM TRAIN which not many of us has had the privilege of riding. It takes a lot of money to have this train operate and it’s sad to see people want everything for free yet again. Be my guest and take metrorail at your own peril. I don’t roll in money, but would save up to do this with my family. Thanks for the post.

Siddas

Carol Steed

Was super excited when I read about this train trip however totally deflated when I saw the price nearly died gob smacked R1600 for hubby and I and that excludes lunch and drinks. You are looking at over R2000 for two people for trip with drinks and lunch. Clearly not for the man in street only for the rich and famous and tourists. How sad

Petrus

Liza

I am extremely sad as my children have always wanted to go on a train ride and what a fabulous idea for a train ride to Ceres. Totally gutted that I will never be able to afford such a fabulous train ride and give my children the opportunity to experience a ride on a steam train. I was a young girl when I was able to go on a ride in a steam train from Somerset West station to Botriver….what a fabulous experience and something that I will never forget. Please make the ride affordable.

Colleen

Wynand du Plessis

Cheryl

Looked like an awesome birthday present for a friend until I saw the price. R800 per person excluding eats and drinks? I would rather give her a R500 voucher. Maybe you need to review your price to get passengers to buy in

Edward

Way to expensive. Will rather drive to Ceres and have a nice lunch at the local steak house. If cheaper rates was available, it could have been a nice day outing… but Capetonians won’t pay those ridiculous prices…

Bronwyn

Rene

I was thrilled to read about this dream trip as we have never been on a steamtrain as a family. But then came pricing. Geez! What about locals that will much better enjoy this experience. We are a family of five. So yes! Way over budget. You will get so much support from your locals if the pricing was better…..

Nikiko Boltman

The prices are exorbitant. I think Capetonians or South Africans in general should receive a locals discount.. ( a hefty one) we were so excited reading about this trip to find out when we came to the prices that we could never afford it or would have to save up for next year.

Allison

Annemarie

Not for the locals who pay in ZAR but not expensive for international tourists. Why not have different rates for SA citizens? Many european countries do it. Cape Town has become very expensive for locals.

RosemarySummers

Nelinia

R800 per person?? I mean – I understand Cape Town has been catering for the overseas guest for the past 10 years – even a cup of coffee is expensive. But this is totally so annoying. No local person can enjoy this with family and friends. Something really needs to be done about these tourism attractions, which do not cater for the local market. No wonder there is no business in the off season. Really disgusted!

Tristan Beebe

Robin

R800 for the day excluding drinks and food is shockingly high, especially when one knows for sure that there will be a massive mark-up on the drinks and food in any event. Lovely idea but totally prohibitively priced for most. So difficult to find things local Cape Townians can afford too. Feels like this City is catering more and more exclusively to tourists.

Valerie Hendricks

Monica Lashmar

I was so excited to read what the trip was all about…but then came the price and the fact that you had to still pay for food and bewerages. I think this is again a complete disgust to charge these prices. The locals would have loved to do this but to pay R3200.00 for the trip alone and still at least another R350 pp for food and bewerages for a family of 4, for one day’s entertainment is just plain crazy!!

Lizelle nieuwenhuizen

Goodday I just want to know the R400 adult ticket is it just from cape town to ceres and then you must pay agian to get back to cape town sorry for the question its just the one way that make me a bit confused
Thanx
Lizelle

Lorraine fox

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